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. 4 IINVENTOR 'T/70ma5Ml au 3 Sheets-Sheet l T. M. VAUGHAN SHIPPING CRATE Filed Sept. 16., 1939 MEMM Jan. 9, 1940.

Jan. 9, 1940. T. M. VAUGHAN SHIPPING CRATE Filed Sept. 16, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Thomas MJ aughan Jan. 9, 1940. T, M VA N 2,186,743

SHIPPING CRATE Filed Sept. 16, 1939 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented .1... 9, 1940 TED STATES PATENT OFFICE] SHIPPING CRATE I Thomas M. Vaughan, Tampa, Fla. Application September 16, 1939, Serial No. 295,32

9 Claims. (01. 211-66) This invention relates to a container such as a shipping crate and, in particular, to a crate specially designed for the shipment of citrus fruits such as oranges or the like, although it may also be used for shipping other articles as well.

Two principal types of crates are now used in the shipment of citrus fruit. The so-called standard crate is assembled by hand, by nailing thin panels to suitable end walls and a central partition, the parts being shipped in knockeddown condition from the mill to the packing ing wires or straps must-be cut and several nails 25 pulled, to raise the lid of a crate. When this has been done, there is no convenient way of molesing the crate even temporarily, as is desirable in the transportation thereof from the wholesaler or jobber to the retailer. 30 The assembly of the parts of the standard crate, furthermore, involves aconsiderable amount of work. The machine for assembling the wire-bound crate is quite costly and requires numerous operators. Both prior types of crates 3 5 are lacking. in lightness and rigidity which are desirable in shipping containers of all kinds. The

wire-bound crate, in addition, has rough sawed edges extending all around both ends, which are objectionable in handling.

40 I have invented a novel form of shipping crate which overcomes the aforementioned objections and is characterized by other novel features and advantages which will be explained in greater detail hereinafter. Ina preferred embodiment, the

.15 crate of my invention comprises a series of side,

' top and bottom panels having connecting and reinforcing metal straps secured thereto, adapted to be assembled with end panels and a central partition. The reinforcing strap has a channel 50 formedat the edge thereof overhanging the ends of: the side, top and bottom panels, which channel is adapted toyreceive the edges of the end panels. panels by tongues extending frommetal ties on 5 the end panels cooperating with slots in the re- The side panels are secured to the end inforcing strap. The top panel is similarly secured to the end panels and the frontside panel when the crate is closed for shipment. The following detailed description of the preferred em bodiment refers to the accompanyingdrawings. 5 In the drawings: l

Fig. 1. is a perspective View of the crate with the top or lid portion open; I

Fig. 2 is an end elevation; I I

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the lid 01' top 10 in closed position; r

Fig. 4 is a top plan view; 5

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line VV of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 4;

Fig. 71s a transverse section taken along, the plane of line VII,VII of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along the plane of line VIII'V'III of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view taken along the plane of line IXIX of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a crate blank including side, top and bottom'panels, prior to bending up and assembly with the end panels; and I .25

Fig. 11. is a perspective View of the reinforcing strap secured to the ends of the side, top and bottom panels. 7 I

Referring now' in detail to the drawings, the

crate of my invention comprises generally a panel assembly or blank 10 (Fig. 10) ends H and a partition l2. The blank l0 includes a plurality of panels, viz., sidepanels I3 and I4, a bottom panel [5, and atop panel or lid It. The blank i0 is composed of spaced wood slats ll secured at their ends to vmetal reinforcing straps i8 and I9. In addition,ametalreinforcing strap 20 is secured to the slats adjacent the middle thereof.

The straps l8, l9 and have points or tangs 2! struck up therefrom which are adapted to be forced through the slats l'l andbent over as illustrated in Fig. 10. The straps l8 and i9, furthermore, overhang the ends of-the slats H, the

overhanging edges thereof being formed into a U-shaped channel as shown at 22 (Fig. 11).

Notches 23 are formed in the channel 22 between adjacent panels, to permit bending of the straps l8 and 19 in assembling the panels of the blank I ll about the'ends I l and the partition l2. The

strap It, being flat, may easily be bent between adjacent panels. 7 I 1 The ends H include a wood panel 24, a metal tie 25' and cross rails or strips 26. As shown in Fig. 6, the ties 25 are secured between the upper cross rail 26 and the panel 24 by nails 21 extending through the latter and into the former.

Tongues 28 and 29 are formed on the upper edge and ends of the ties 25, respectively. The straps l8 and I9 are slotted as at 30 to receive these tongues when the blank I is assembled with the ends II by bending the blank around the ends. It will be understood that if the ends are supported in spaced relation by any suitable form of jig or other [holder, .the panels of the blank I!) may be assembled around the ends in such manner that the edges of the ends are firmly bottomed in the channels 22. When so assembled, the tongues 29 are bent over as shown in Fig. 1 and serve to hold the blank and ends in tightly assembled relation.

The partition 12 is held in proper position during the assembly. It comprises a thin wood panel 3!, metal reinforcing straps 32 and a metal channel 33 disposed over the upper edge of the panel. The straps 32, as shown in Fig. 9, are riveted to the panel and have tongues 34 adapted to enter slots 35 in the strap 2!). The slats I! are notched as at 32a to admit the tongues 34. The tongues 3 are bent in opposite directions when the blank has been assembled around the ends and the partition and assist in holding the parts in properly assembled relation. The ends of the straps i8 and i9 overhanging the toppanel have slots 35 therein adapted-to receive tongues 3! pivoted to the other ends of the straps. The ends of the strap 2|] are looped through slots in an eye plate 38 and a tongue plate 39, the tongue All of the latter being adapted to enter the slot in the eye plate when the lid is-closed.

When the crate has been assembled in the manner indicated, it may be closed after filling by folding the top panel down until the tongues 25 protrude through the slots 30. The tongues are then bent down as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 and the crate is ready for shipment. The tongues 37 and 43 may be swung or bent out of the way during shipment or may be bent down as shown in Fig. 5 to assist in holding the lid or top I 6 closed. When the crate is received by the consignee, it may be opened by bending up the tongues 23 and the tongues 31 and 40. Thereafter, the lid of the crate may be temporarily held closed by mariually bending down the tongues 31' and 40.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the crate of my invention is characterized by numerous advantages over crates previously employed. My crate may be easily assembled by hand by relatively unskilled labor, requiring no special tools, but merely a hammer. At the same time, the crate is well adapted to assembly by a relatively simple and inexpensive machine. The ability to open the crate easily for inspection by the purchaser .and to reclose, it temporarily has already been referred to. The blank including the side, top, and bottom panels may be assembled at the mill and shipped flat with the ends and partition to the packing plant. The crate may be opened and closed repeatedly without injury to the bendable tongues which hold the lid closed or the portion of the reinforcing straps between the top and rear side panels which serve as hinges.

The crate is characterized by a greater rigidity and a lower weight than the crates used heretofore. The reduction in weight amounts to about 20% which represents a substantial saving in freight charges on a carload. My crate may be assembledmore cheaply than prior crates and the cost of the material is less. By using relatively thin end panels, the length of the slats forming the side panels may be less, reducing the amount of material required. By using a thin partition, the available capacity of the crate is increased. This makes it possible to pack the same amount of fruit of a given size without as much bulging of the top or lid as has been neces sary with previous constructions. The cross rails or strips at the ends of the crate facilitate the manual handling thereof and also constitute supports for the crate when it is stood on end. All the exposed surfaces and edges of the crate are smooth and free from the rough edges characterizing the aforementioned wire-bound crate. The channels formed in the reinforcing straps at the ends of the crate form chimes \vhereon the crate may be rolled, if desired, without injury to the other members or the contents thereof. In addition, the crate has a resale value after it has been usedfor its intended purpose.

Although I have illustrated and described but a'preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be recognized that changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shipping container comprising sides, ends, a top, and a bottom, and metal straps extending around the container adjacent th ends, said straps having U-shaped channels therein overhanging beyond the extremities of the sides, top and bottom, to provide a metallic seat for engaging the sides of the edges of the ends, and means to secure the ends of the straps to one corner of the ends, and thereby retain the ends in the said channels.

2. A shipping container comprising sides, ends, a top and a bottom, metal straps extending around the container adjacent the ends, said straps having U-shaped channels therein adapted to receive the ends, slots in said channels adjacent the ends of the straps along said sides, and metal straps along the upper edges of said ends with tongues thereon adapted to enter said slots in the channels and effective when bent over to hold said sides in assembled relation with said ends.

3. A shipping container comprising sides, ends, a top and a bottom, metal straps extending around the container adjacent the ends, said straps having U-shaped channels therein adapted to receive and to provide a metal binding for the ends, slots insaid channels adjacent the upper edges of said sides and metal ties extending across said ends with tongues entering said slots.

4. A shipping container as defined by claim 3 characterized by said straps also having slots along said top, and said ties having tongues adapted to enter said last-mentioned slots.

5. A shipping container comprising sides,-ends, a top and a bottom, metal straps extending around the container adjacent the ends, said straps hav ing U-shaped channels therein extending beyond the extremities of the sides, ends, top and bottom and also beyond the periphery of the body of the container and adapted to receive the ends, and spaced rails secured to said ends.

6. A shipping container comprising sides, ends, a top and a bottom, metal straps extending around the container adjacent the ends, said straps having U-shaped channels therein adapted to receive the ends, slots in said channels adjacent the upper edges of said sides, metal ties extending across said ends with tongues entering said slots, and lifting strips overlying said ties,

said strips and ties being secured by fastenersv extending through said ends and ties into said strips.

'7. A container comprising side, bottom and top panels, a bendable metal strap secured to each end of the several panels, said straps having a U-shaped channel formed at the edge thereof beyond the ends of said panels, the bottom of said channels being spaced outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of said panels, said container also including end panels adapted to be inserted in said channel when the side, top and bottom panels are folded into a container, said end panels extending outwardly beyond the ends of said side, top and bottom panels, whereby a top and a bottom, said ends extending outwardly beyond the outer surfaces of the sides, top and bottom, and metal straps secured to the sides, top and bottom, having U-shaped channels adapted to receive the edges of said ends and thereby provid rolling chimes extending outwardly beyond said sides, top and bottom.

9. A container as defined in claim '7, characterized by slots at one end of each strap and tongues at the other whereby the top panel may be secured in closed position.

THOMAS M. VAUGHAN. 

